The Corruption of Ben Solo

Fanfiction
Title:	The Corruption of Ben Solo
Author(s):	dentigerous, wraithnoir
Date(s):	2016 - 2017
Length:	>460,000 words
Genre:	Slash
Fandom:	Star Wars: The Force Awakens
External Links:	Ao3 Link
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The Corruption of Ben Solo is a seven-part series of 460,969 words by dentigerous and wraithnoir. The series was begun May 10th, 2016, and updated as complete May 25th, 2017.

When Ben Organa Solo decides to leave the temple to follow his father instead of his uncle, the voices in his head recede. He doesn't know it, but for the time, he's safe. Then, a typical run for his father's acquisition business goes sour, and he takes a First Order general hostage. All his convictions are thrown into disarray, and when he's given the chance to explore his power, all of it, he takes it.

General Arrik Hux knows power. Seeing it so tightly contained in Ben Solo creates an intense need to have the man, to tie him close with bonds of loyalty and regard. He imagines himself keeping his own personal Sith enforcer, the respect he would command with Ben Solo's name harnessed to his. It's not long before the two have twined their fates together, their stars connecting in an intricate constellation of trust, anger, ambition and desire.

This is the story of how Ben Solo, 28, late attendant of the Senate, successful smuggler, failed Jedi padawan, is seduced by the Dark Side, dragged down by a man who's never given a chance to see the Light.

Or the AU where Ben doesn’t go dark side as a teenager, becomes a smuggler, and Hux corrupts him instead.

Installments

• "The Corruption of Ben Solo" | Six chapters, 62,517 words
• "Ambitions" | Six chapters, 67,847 words
• "Arkanis" | Six chapters, 90,874 words
• "Distance" | Two chapters, 31,031 words
• "Balance of Power" | Six chapters, 82,910 words
• "Star Killer" | Five chapters, 49,619 words
• "The Death of Ben Solo" | Six chapters, 52,171 words

Reactions and Reviews

WIP. I’ll stop rec'ing this… someday. It’s the Ben Solo epic that we all need. Hux is manipulative, Ben is ambitious, and together they’re unstoppable.

Epic length, and currently one of my favorite fics being written. AMAZING. I have horrible Ben Solo feelings, and this feeds all of them. Ben is a smuggler, but should be something more. Slow burn, but it’s worth every moment. So good.

The tone of the story follows the course of Ben/Kylo’s life. The first installment feels lighthearted, as smuggler Ben flirts to no avail with the stony General. He’s off on another caper, and Hux is along for the romp. But from there, as Ben accepts Hux’s invitation to come see what the First Order is all about, the mood changes, imperceptibly by degrees, as Ben reacts and changes, as he makes decisions that draw him further in.

We are carried along on a journey of discovery. We learn a lot about Hux’s origins. We learn about the fall of the Empire and the early days of the First Order. We learn all about loving dad Brendol Hux. The Knights of Ren get names and personalities. There are battles upon battles. It’s fascinating, compelling reading.

This story isn’t just a slow burn. It’s a slow immolation. Ben Solo makes progressively more awful and self-destructive choices, as his previous actions ensnare him further. The path to his inexorable destiny is, wow. It’s incredible, the way it’s depicted in the course of this story. Hux is drawn to Ben’s power, and the way their relationship builds, the toxicity, the moments of honesty and the lies they tell, the vulnerability and viciousness they give each other is unlike anything I’ve read.

You will find yourself rooting for Kylo and Hux in their battles, despite knowing just how awful they are. It’s just great how terrible they are in this story. They’re not soft, it’s not sugarcoated. They’re vicious men and can’t stop trying each other. Their merciless actions are really present in the story. You aren’t permitted to forget just what it is they’re up to. They will stop at nothing.

It’s funny that a story that deviates from canon in a fundamental way still feels like the most canon-compliant Kylux I’ve ever read. This is such a deep and layered depiction of these characters, which doesn’t really deviate from their canon personalities. You could call their canon selves the bones on which this story is hung like juicy meat. Because this story is so long, you learn so much about them, the character development feels very real. The story doesn’t have exactly a cinematic feel. It had a feel more like a classic novel, with the characters living rich inner lives. A book where you think to yourself, they could never make a movie that would capture this. What I’m trying to say is, Hux and Ren are portrayed so richly they feel alive. Four-dimensional people with pasts and future aspirations.

series, recently completed, so fucking good shit man just fucking read this please its so good, the tears are real, I’m dying for more

This is a pretty well-known set of fics, but I include it anyway b/c I Like Long Fics And I Cannot Lie. TONS of worldbuilding, and lush, smooth writing that flows on by in this story